| 摘要 |
A watercraft having positive static buoyancy is provided which is operable both as a hydrofoil and submersible vessel. It is generally shaped in the form of a dolphin or porpoise, with the equivalent of fins acting as both navigation and attitude control mechanisms. Pectoral or forward fins provide hydrofoil struts when manipulated into one position and then are operable as diving planes when displaced into an alternate position. A dorsal fin provides supplemental rudder control. A pair of flukes or rear fins provide for pitch and/or dive control while the vessel operates in the submerged mode. These fins and a propulsion system are either manually or computer controlled by way of hand held joysticks and foot rudders. Submerged operation is achieved with an internal combustion motor by including an air compressor and air storage tank(s) with an air intake arrangement having automatically operable devices serving to open and close an air intake in response to exposure to water. The vessel also provides positive static buoyancy in the event of any systems failure while submerged. If the vessel incurs an impact, a rear hull section containing the fuel tank is jettisoned to avoid fire or explosion. The vessel is capable of limited ballistic flight above the surface of the water, due to a combination of relatively high subsurface velocities attainable and the natural positive buoyancy of the craft which may be used to enable it to break well clear of the surface.
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